Umbrellas and parasols



Nov. 14, 1961 A. c. FOLTIS ETAL UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS Filed Oct. 15, 1959 INVENTORS. ANESTIS C. F'OLTIS 8 PHILLIP KATES ATTORNEY United St tes P n Q a 3,008,478 UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS Anestis C. Foltis, New York, NY. (40-40 Hampton St., Jackson Heights, N.Y.), and Phillip Kates, Giant Umbrella Co., 358 th Ave., New York, NY.

Filed Oct. 15, 1959, Ser. No. 846,600 1 Claim. (Cl. 135-22) We have invented an improved umbrella or parasol of such construction that it can be more easily manipulated than the ordinary umbrella. The primary object of this invention is to provide an umbrella or parasol that can be opened or closed by the owner with one hand only.

The further object of the invention is to provided a device of this sort which comprises a relatively small number of parts, is simple in design, and can be easily and inexpensively produced in large quantities for commercial sale and general use.

Other objects and the nature and advantages of the invention are made clear in the following specification, and the novel characteristics are defined in the appended claim. The drawings illustrate several forms of the device; but of course many alterations in minor respects can be adopted in practice without exceeding the meaning and scope of the combinations defined in the appended claim.

On the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side view partly in section on line 1--1 on FIGURE 3 of the umbrella according to this invention.

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view seen from the front of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a top view of the collar to which the arms for spreading the ribs are attached.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of one of the parts by which the umbrella can be secured in folded position.

FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 are sectional details of portions of the device as above set forth.

The umbrella comprises a tubular stem 1 in the outer end of which is telescoped a rod 2 that is normally held in extended position with respect to the stem 1, when the umbrella is lowered, by a spring '3 in the stem 1, pressing against the inner end of the stem 2 at one end and against a stop plug '4 in the rod 1 at the other. On the rod 2 near the outer end is fixed a collar 5 to which the ribs 6 are pivotally connected; and on the stem 1 adjacent the outer end thereof is a fixed collar 7 to which are pivotally connected the arms 8 pinned to the ribs 6; the collars 5' and 7 are atnxed immovably on the rod 2 and stem -1 respectively. The umbrella can be opened with one hand merely by pushing the rod 2 against a wall, floor or other fixed object thus forcing the rod 2 into the stem 1 against the spring 3 until the arms 8 distend the rib 6. The usual cloth cover (not shown) is secured to the ribs 6, and fits around the rod 2 between the collar 5 and a ferule or cap 9 fixed on the rod 2.

The collar 7 is soldered or otherwise fastened to the stem land the opening 13' through the middle of this collar has recesses 11. Below the collar. 7, a hollow head 15 is slidably mounted on the stem 1, and this head is made fast to the inner end of a split tube 12 which comprises two divided halves 13 separated by a longitudinal slot 14. The halves 13 are of little less width than the recesses 11, so that when the head -15 is moved on the tubular stem 1, the halves 13 can pass freely through the collar 7 and slide up and down on the stem 1. The divided tube 12 is made fast to the head 15 by solder indicated at 16, solder 16' holds the collar 5 on the rod 2 and solder 16" holds the collar 7 on the stem 1 between the halves 13 of the member 12.

In the stem '1 adjacent the handle 17 at the end remote from the rod 2, is a latch 18 having a hooked end 19 which will engage with the inner edge 20 of the head or collar 15 when the umbrella is opened. This latch is mounted on a pivot 21 in the end of the stem 1 adjacent handle 17, which is fixed on the stem 1; and a spring 22 in the stem 1 bears against the latch 18 and the inside of the stem so as to move the latch and keep the hooked end 19 in projected position through an opening 23 in the side of the stem 1. The latch has a knob or button 24 by which it can be pressed inward.

When the umbrella is manipulated so as to spread the arms and ribs 6, the rod 2 is pushed against the pavement or any other fixed point, to force the rod 2 downwards until the end 19 of the latch, the upper edge of which is inclined, engages the in-turned edge 20 on the lower end of the collar 15. This holds the umbrella distended, but when the user wishes to lower or fold the umbrella, he merely presses on the knob 24 to release the latch 18; then the spring 3 expands and moves the rod 2 outward with the result that the arms and ribs are pulled inward into the position shown in FIGURE 1.

It will therefore be seen that the umbrella can be opened merely by holding it in one hand by the handle 17 and pressing the outer end of the rod 2 against any fixed object. The head 15 will slip over the edge of the projection 19 until this projection is inside the head 15 and then the spring 22 will force the latch 18 into position to hold the head 15 close to the handle 17. The umbrella is thus kept open, but when the owner wishes to lower it he merely presses on the knob 24 to release the latch and the spring 3 then moves the rod 2 outward; so that the collar 5 and arms 7 pull the rib '6 and the arms into folded position.

In FIGURE '5, the tubular stem- 1 is shown with a circumferential groove 25 at the point where the plug 4 is placed as indicated in FIGURE 1. This groove can be rolled into the metal stem 1 and the endless bulge thus formed on the inside of the stem- 1 will serve as a seat for the spring 3-; and the plug or stop 4 can be omitted.

FIGURE 6 shows the lower end of the spring 3 coiled into smaller turns which are seated on a projection 26 at the upper end of the latch 18a. This will make the stop 4 unnecessary and the latch 1811 may even be operated without the spring '22 because the spring 3 will then pull the latch with the tip 19 in projecting position.

In FIGURE 7, the plug or stop 4 is illustrated as resting on the projection 26' of the latch 18b, and hence does not need to be fixed in the tubular stem 1. Also in both FIGURES 6 and 7, the lower end 27 of the latch can be made flexible to serve instead of a separate spring 22. The end 27 has a point 28 that enters an opening 29 in the stem 1.

Having described our invention, what we believe to be new is:

An umbrella or parasol comprising a hollow stem having a handle at one end, a rod telescopically engaging the other end of said stem, a spring seated in the stem and engaging the inner end of said rod, a collar fixed on the outer end of said rod, a collar fixed on said stem adjacent jPa tenlged Nov. .14, 1-961- v a 3 7 4 a its said other end, ribs 'pivotally attached to the collar on through which said portions extend, said head being holthe rod, arms pivotally connected to said ribs and to the low and having an inturned edge at the lower end to recollar on said stem, a tubular member slidably engaging ceive said latch. the stem and afiixed at one end to said collar on said rod,

a head fixed to said member adjacent the other end of 5 References Cited in the file of this patent said member, and a latch adjacent the handle to engage UNITED STATES PATENTS said head, said member having oppositely located divided ,347 Schoenberg et 1 .12, 1901 portions and the collar on the stem having recesses 2,917,060 Militano Dec. 15, 1959 

